KTM 700RR Exclusive

In 1998 KTM introduced the KTM 640 Adventure, this bike represented everything that was needed in a solid adventure bike. There was not another single cylinder adventure bike on the market like it, and this continued true right through to its demise in 2007.

The bike boasted a host of features like, 26-28 L fuel tank standard, high quality long travel suspension, strong front and rear disc brakes, good fully integrated fairing, comfortable seat, strong rear subframe, and great looks that were still popular after 10 years of production. Even when the bike was taken off the market in 2007, there was still not another single cylinder adventure bike that would hold a candle to it.

Yes, over the years, if you were lucky you may have been able to buy a new KTM660 or KTM690 Rally, but you had to be prepared to shell out $45,000 plus, and then in many cases there was no compliance plate for legal registration. Or you may have been able to buy a second hand one of these bikes which would often sell for between $25-$30,000.

KTM did replace the brilliant 640 Adventure with the KTM 690 Enduro, but this was a trail bike, no doubt with better handling and a more refined motor, but where was the Adventure.

The mind boggles, as just like Yamaha did in the late 80’s/90’s when they had their Dakar winning 660 Tenere Rally, that with some street legal refinements would have been the most awesome adventure bike in the world, now KTM have replicated their every move and done away with the KTM 640 Adventure, and have not replaced it with a street legal Rally styled bike that was already built and tested and would perfectly fill the single cylinder adventure market. KTM have a long history of Dakar wins with the KTM 660 Rally, and then the KTM 690 Rally, which with some street legal refinements would and will still make the most awesome single cylinder adventure bike in the world.

ENTER THE KTM700R ADVENTURE.

Darren Wilson (who purchased Craig Hartley's first KTM 640 Adventure, which was actually the first 640 Adventure in Australia in 1998) and Craig often spoke of building an adventure bike that was of a similar design to the thoroughbred Rally versions. Darren had already modified the 1998 Adventure into a Rally style replica and then secured one of Andy Caldecott”s 2003 660 Rally’s, and later on obtained one of the last KTM690 Rally’s produced from the Middle East.

The kit that has been built to turn the KTM 690 Enduro into a meaningful adventure bike and has been born from a lot of the ideas and designs directly from the KTM 690 Rally. Some of the parts like the fairing side cover’s and the bashplate actually fit straight on to the genuine Rally bike.

The overall design and shape of the low exhaust, fairing, fuel tanks and bash plate are made to actually look like a $50,000 Rally bike. The fuel tank lines look the same, but the tanks themselves are the most different , part to the Rally, reason being that the tanks had to be able to mould into the original 690 Enduro fuel tank and seat and airbox.